Grand Rapids-area United Way to announce 2012 campaign goal

WYOMING, MI -- The 2012 campaign goal for the Heart of West Michigan United Way will be announced Thursday morning as the nonprofit organization kicks off its eight-month campaign.

The announcement will be held at 10 a.m. at the United Church Outreach Ministry, 1311 Chicago Dr. SW, in Wyoming.

“This year’s goal is aggressive, but achieving our financial goal is what enables us to achieve our bold community goals of supporting a quality education, with enough income to support a family, and good health,” said Maureen Noe, president and chief executive officer of Heart of West Michigan United Way. “And the success of last year’s campaign proves that with the support of the entire community—including businesses and individuals -- we can do it.”

This year’s campaign chair, Mary Tuuk, president of Fifth Third Bank – Western Michigan, said the campaign is an opportunity for anyone in the community to participate -- either with an individual donation, or through a corporate or foundation donation.

"This is about changing people's lives," Tuuk said. "When you see the impact this has on a family ... all of the sudden the work becomes so much more real."

Suzy Gerow, marketing and communications director, said it has been a challenging year for the economy, but every 90 cents per $1 donated to the local United Way chapter goes right back into the community.

“We have a cross-section of the community supporting the campaign and that is going to bring it success,” she said. “It’s important to get the whole community behind our work and our campaign.”

Bruce Roller, executive director said United Way funding is critical to the organization, which operates one of Grand Rapids’ largest pantries, serving nearly 50,000 people a year.

“The exhausting grind of poverty exacts a toll on people, as you can imagine,” he said. “The programs funded by United Way offer them a ray of sunshine, restoring hope to those who maybe can’t see beyond their present difficulties.”